Rose and Herb Bath Tablets - Bath Blend of the Month

Time for another Bath Blend of the Month.  This recipe also makes a great gift.  You can choose any herbs you want to make the recipe, but I suggest roses or a combination with roses because these help soften and and soothe skin, especially if you have been outside in fall or winter wind.

Honey, the main ingredient in these tablets is a humectant meaning it brings moisture to the skin. So enjoy a calming and relaxing bath and rejuvenate your skin as well. 

Honey Bath Tablets

1/2 cups fine grain see salt

1 Tbls white clay

1/2 Tbls dried herb (I suggest either dried rose petals, or a combination of roses, rosemary and lavender)

1/2 cup pure honey

Combine class, herbs and sea salt in a bowl.  Warm honey to 300 degrees use a thermometer to be sure. Pour hot honey over mixture in bowl and stir to combine. Spoon into candy molds, pressing down with back of spoon. Cool completely. Unmold onto plastic wrap.  Individually wrap the tables and store in an air tight container. (makes 6 to 8 Tablets.)

TO USE: Place one tablet in your bath as you are filling to tub and allow to dissolve.  Slip in and unjoy with a cup of tea sweetened with honey.

Angel Toner - Bath Blend of the Month

 This blend of ingredients is a special little infusion that is great for your skin. Toners are a thin, water-like formula meant to be used in-between your face wash and other skincare steps to "prime" the skin for skincare. Previously, toners were heavy on the alcohol and were perfect for people with acne as they were very drying.  But these days they are not only for removing excess oil from the face, but contain a variety of soothing, brightening, and anti-aging ingredients.

Angel Toner

• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 5 Tbls rose petals
• 4 Tbls sage leaves
• 3 Tbls raspberry leaves
• 2 Tbls rosemary
• ¾ cup rosewater

Heat vinegar to just under boiling and pour over herbs.  Place in a jar with a plastic lid and allow to steep 10 days shaking every day.  Strain.  Add rosewater.  Store.

To Use: Place a small amount of toner an a cotton ball or pad and smooth over skin after washing and before applying moisturizer

Pampering Bath Salts - Bath Blend of the Month

 May is when I get out and really get working in the garden.  I am looking forward to planting, bringing my scented geraniums outside after winter, cleaning out my perennial beds and so forth.  Although I did a lot of walking this winter to keep myself in shape, those first few weeks always result in some stiff muscles from overwork.

For the bath blend this month I chose to craft something that I can use to soothe my muscles, but also pamper my skin.  It uses the soothing and pampering of Epsom salts and baking soda, bringing it to a whole new level by using combinations of different herbs. You need 3/4 cup of herbs, but you can make your own combination depending on what your skin needs.

Here are a list of great bath herbs and why they are helpful

Lavender – is balancing, will calm or rejuvenate depending on your need and what you blend it with

Lemon Balm – an infusion strained into the bath make for happy thoughts.

Roman Chamomile – is soporific, aiding sleep and relaxation

Bergamot - stimulates, brightens the skin and helps blood flow

Rosemary – lightly astringent; stimulates rejuvenates and promotes elimination of waste

Sage – purifying, restores skin tone

Rose – deeply healing

Geranium – deeply healing

Lemon peel – is antiviral and anti-bacterial

Pampering Bath Salts

1 1/2 cups Epsom salts
3/4 cup baking soda
3/4 cup herbs (well crumbled and not whole leaf)

Blend the herbs and salts together and store in airtight plastic containers or sterilized jars (such as mason jars or small & pretty jam jars). Shake the jar well before using. You can place these in gift jars to make a great gift, just include contents and directions on a pretty tag.

To use: Toss in as little or as much as desired into the water. The average amount is about 1/4 cup. If you do not wish to chase herbs around the tub, place the measured amount into a cloth bag, square of fabric or even a coffee filter tied closed.

 

Bath Ball Gift Jar

Need something class and special at the last minute.  Try this bath ball mix in a decorative jar. I have shared bath ball recipes in the past, but this recipe is minty and floral, curative, and makes a wonderful gift. Place a collection of bath balls, tied up in seasonal fabric in a quart canning jar, and present them to a teacher, pet sitter, or another person you want to reward with a little me time.

Bath Ball Blend

1 cup mint, dried
1 cup rosemary, dried
1 cup lavender, dried
1 cup rose petals, dried
1 cup comfrey leaves, dried and crumbled
1 cup lemon balm
4-inch squares of fabric
ribbon

Combine dried herbs. Scoop 1 heaping teaspoon of mixture into the center of the fabric and tie the ends up with ribbon. Place balls in a glass and tie on instructions

To use: Use one ball per relaxing bath. You can tie the ball under the tap and let the water run through it, or steep the ball in 1 cup of boiling water for 15 minutes and add the liquid to the bathwater.

Rose Dusting Powder - Bath Blend of the Month

It may be a bit early for blooming roses, but spring rain and I am am thinking of ways to use flowers. In fact I dedicated this month's newsletter to information on Edible Flowers, so if you are interested in receiving the Monthly Newsletter, please sign up here.

This after shower powder is great for softening and soothing skin and smells great!

Rose Dusting Powder

• Petals from 4 roses (medium size)
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 3 Tbls baking soda
• 3 dried rose heads

Directions:

1.    In a small cardboard box, layer the petals and cornstarch. Fit the cover on but don’t seal tight, you want the contents to still have a bit of air. Leave for 24 to 36 hours.

2.    Sift the pieces from cornstarch then add the baking soda (you may have to sift a few times to remove all the petals). Mix well then split the powder mixture into two batches. *See tip below

3.    Next take the dried roses, remove the stem and leaves and add the rose heads to one half of the powder mixture. Pour into a blender and mix until the dried flowers are finely ground.

4.    Add the fine ground powder mixture to the other half of the powder mixture, use a wooden spoon to blend the powder by hand.

5.    Pour the scented powder into a decorative box or shaker jar, allow to sit for a day before using.

Tips:

If you prefer a stronger scented dusting powder, you can add another batch of fresh petals and allow the powder to sit another 24 hours (first sift out the initial batch of petals).

You can use lavender or other scented flowers if you prefer.

To Use:  Dust skin with a powder puff after bathing or showering.  Lightly sprinkle on bedding for a nicely scented sleep.  Use to scent lingerie drawers or closets. Great to give as homemade gifts

Candy Cane Bath Salts - Bath Blend of the Month

 This is a great last minute gift, and it is also fun to make with kids as you layer the salts to make a perfect candy cane swirl.

Candy Cane Bath Salts

2 cups Epsom salt

2 cups sea salt

1 cup baking soda

red rose petals

beet powder

spearmint and peppermint (optional) essential oil

Mix the salts and baking soda together and divide evenly between 2 bowls.  In one bowl add up to 3 drops of peppermint essential oil.  In the other bowl add enough crushed red rose petals and beet powder to make the salt pinkish red.  You will probably need about 1/4 cup each of rose petals and beet powder.  Add more for a deeper color and more contrast in your final product.  Then add 15 to 20 drops of spearmint essential oil.  Spearmint essential oil is much milder than peppermint.  The roses mixed in with mint has an amazing smell.  

Creating the Candy Cane Effect

Now for the fun part, layering the bath salts!  Take a bag or a jar and place one color of salt in the bottom.  Make sure the salt is level and hold the jar or bag steady.  Then add the other color of salt to create a layer, or candy cane stripe.  Repeat until your container is full.   I enjoy making this bath with kids because of the pattern that appears when the kids layer the salts.  They really enjoy watching the candy cane form.  It is fun if you tilt the jar as you add the salts to create a diagonal look.

To USE:

Add 2 Tablespoon salts to bath water as you fill the tub.  Swirl to dissolve.  To avoid a ring of rose petals, measure the salts into a muslin bag, tea ball or coffee filter and float in the bath swirling to dissolve the salts.

Lemon Healing Bath Mix - Bath Blend of the Month

This nice flower rich lemon herb-centered salt blend is soothing to the skin and the scent is healing to the body. It will help you relax and clear away the funk of garden work in the hot summer.

Lemon Healing Bath Mix

1/4 cup sea salt
1/4 cup chamomile
1/4 cup roses
1/4 cup lemon peel
1/4 cup calendula
1/4 cup lemon verbena
3/4 cup lavender
3/4 cup lemon balm

Blend the herbs and salt together and place in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake well before using.

TO USE: Place 1 Tablespoon of the mixture in a tea ball or coffee filter.  Place the blend in the bath while filling and swish to dissolve the salt.  Soak and enjoy.  For a stronger scent use 2 Tablespoons.

Romantic Dreams Sleep Sachet - Bath Blend of the Month

When the days are still too short and the nights too long and the weather still too cold or snowy, I start to lose sleep.  I just don’t stay asleep as well.  I try to increase my exercise in hopes of encouraging sleep and drink more tea with Holy Basil, like my Holy Basil Relaxing tea.  And I also add a scented sachet to my pillowcase.  Since it is February, I am sharing a recipe designed to increase your dreams of that special someone.  The evocative and spicy blend will increase thoughts of roses and warm nights.

Romantic Evening Dreams

1/2 cup rose petals
1/2 cup rosemary
1/4 cup lavender flowers
2 Tablespoons lemon verbena leaves, crushed or chopped
1 teaspoon mint
4 whole cloves
1 small piece of cinnamon stick, 1 inch long, broken up

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake to combine.  Allow to meld for at least 2 days before placing in a sachet.

For a simple pillow, fill a 3- to 5-inch drawstring bag with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chosen herbs; draw strings and tie closed.

For a more decorative bag, fold a 5-inch-by-12-inch cloth in half on the long side and stitch up one long and one short side (the folded side does not need to be stitched). Launder with no fragrance or fabric softener. Place a cotton ball-sized amount of cotton or fiberfill material in the bottom of the pocket. Add about 1/2 cup of herbs, fold over the remaining open side and stitch shut.

TO USE: place the sachet inside the pillowcase or under the pillow and inhale deeply as you fall asleep.  Enjoy the dreams!

Milk and Oatmeal Bath Tea - Bath blend of the month

It is that time of year where wind, dry heat and other aspects of the season change begin to effect the skin.  So I thought a quick and easy bath tub tea might be the way to go.  This tea uses milk to sooth and soften skin along with  oatmeal to soothe dryness and itchiness. With this recipe you fill cloth bags or coffee filters  and then allow the bag to steep in the bath water before you slide in to enjoy your bath.

If you want some extra herb properties in this bath tea, choose to add 1 Tablespoon of any of these herbs to each bag.


Lavender – is balancing will calm or rejuvenate depending on your need 
Lemon Balm – an infusion strained into the bath make for happy thoughts

Roman Chamomile – is calming and relaxing

Bergamot - stimulates

Rosemary – lightly astringent; stimulates rejuvenates and promotes elimination of waste

Sage – purifying, restores skin tone

Rose – deeply healing

Geranium – deeply healing

Milk & Oatmeal Bath Tea 

1 ½ cups regular oats, not quick

1 cup powdered milk

Blend the ingredients together in a plastic bowl, then fill the muslin bags.  Add 1 Tablespoon of herbs (if desired) to each bag shaking to combine.  This recipe will make up to 8 bags.

To Use: Place filled bag under the tap while bath is filling, then slide into the water.  Use the bag as a scrubby to get even more herbal energy!

Victorian Bath Tea - Bath Blend of the Month

Coming up May 1, 2019 I will being doing a special demo program called Body Beautiful Bath Botanicals (at Schaumburg Library) which will focus on how easy it is to use herbs to enhance your skin, refresh you hair and make your bath experience more relaxingly aromatic.  

I will be showing how to make bath and spa items, everything from bath tea to bath salts to lotions, salves and other items.  Participants will be able to take home a little something for themselves as part of the program.  

I have been debating what recipes to have guests make and one of the must haves is a bath tea blend.  The blend I am using is different than the one below, but in my search I found this one that I once sold at the Wheaton History Center gift shop.  It is a blend of appropriate Victorian Herbs and flowers with a refreshing traditional scent.

Lavender is balancing and will calm or rejuvenate depending on your need and what you combine it with.  Including rose petals and the geranium essential oil creates a deeply healing blend with this Bath tea.

Victorian Bath Tea

1/2 cup rose petals and buds

1/2 cup lavender buds

1/2 cup comfrey

8 drop lavender essential oil

8 drops rose geranium essential oil

Directions:

Blend the herbs together in a plastic bowl, then add each essential oil separately and stir to combine.  Allow to meld overnight, scoop ¼ cup into each muslin bag and store in an airtight container.  This recipe will make up to 8 bags.

Winter Rose petal Salad with Orange Vinaigrette - Weekend Recipe

The Chicago Flower and Garden Show includes my program on Edible Flowers today around Noon, so I thought I would share with you a great salad that you can make for your weekend.  Celebrate Spring is here and that flowers will soon be blooming, assuming it every stays warm!!

Wish me luck in Chicago and enjoy this recipe.

Zuzu’s Petals Winter Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

Orange Vinaigrette:

1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1 teaspoon orange zest

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup for vegan)

1 teaspoon black sesame seeds

1 teaspoon poppy seeds

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon rosemary

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Salad:

petals from 4 large roses, washed and torn

4 cups fresh green leaf lettuce, shredded

1 medium ripe avocado, sliced

1 large gala apple, cored and sliced

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup pomegranate arils

1/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

1/4 cup slivered almonds

Directions:

Orange Vinaigrette: Combine all ingredients for vinaigrette in a jar with tightly fitting lid and shake well. If not using immediately, store in refrigerator for up to 1 week. Shake well before serving.

Salad: Toss ingredients together in a large bowl and drizzle with desired amount of orange vinaigrette then pour into a serving dish with salad tongs. Alternatively, for a prettier plate, divide and layer the ingredients between 4 to 6 plates and serve with dressing on the side.

Serves 4 to 6

RECIPE THEME:

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018. 

You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD in the () to search for each  month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2019 so you can find them all.

The themes are:

Jan 2019 – Chicken and Dumplings (CDumpsJan)

Feb 2019 - Pasta Dishes (PastaFeb)

March 2019 - Edible Flowers (FlowerMar)

April 2019 - Cajun And Creole

May 2019 - Seafood Recipes

June 2019 - Vegetarian Dishes

July 2019 - Zucchini Recipes

August 2019 - National Mustard Day – mustard recipes

September 2019 - Quiche

October 2019 - Crock Pot meals

November 2019 - Pies

December 2019 - Mocktails

New Moon Herbal Salt Detox Bath - Bath Blend of the Month

The time of the lunar cycle when the Moon goes dark — not visible in the sky at all — is known as a New Moon.  This is the perfect opportunity to discard things in your life you do not want.

2015 NASA photo

The day of the New Moon — the day before and the day after also — is a fortunate, rejuvenating time.

It is a time for:

+renewal
+making positive changes
+turning inward
+clearing false perceptions
+tapping into our inner knowing
+embracing fresh opportunities

+ a time to set new intentions

+ also a wonderful time for cleansing

Because at the time of the New Moon (as well as the Full Moon) our body’s capacity for detoxification and toxin removal is at its best. Just like the oceans’ tides — that ebb and flow with the electromagnetic effects of the Moon — our bodies are comprised mostly of water and are also naturally affected by this lunar influence.

One of the vital elements to cleansing with the New Moon, is the detox bath. And today I want to share a recipe for renewal on the New Moon. It’s a wonderful way to increase the energy on the night of the New Moon and/or the day(s) before and after.  The New Mon is set of Dec. 7th

New Moon Herbal Salt Detox Bath

Makes: three (3) large tea bags 

2 tablespoons dead sea salts

2 tablespoons Himalayan pink salt

1 tablespoon calendula flowers

1 tablespoon lavender flowers

1 tablespoon lemon balm

1 tablespoon rose petals

1 tablespoon jasmine flowers

essential oils of lavender (3 drops), jasmine (2 drops), and rose absolute (4 drops), optional (for a more budget-friendly option, simply use lavender)

Directions: Add all ingredients to a quart-sized glass jar. Place lid and shake gently until well combined. Allow jar to sit overnight Measure 1/4 cup of mixture into a draw-string muslin bag or one large tea bag and seal with the use of a household iron or as recommended. Store tea bags in a glass jar or brown kraft bag.

Best Bath Procedures:

1.      Prepare a hot bath.

2.      Add one bath tea bag to the tub.

3.      Dry brush the skin while waiting 2-3 minutes for the bath infusion to prepare

4.      Bathe for 20-30 minutes.

5.      Be sure to drink plenty of water before, throughout, and after the bath.

Egg Decorating with Herbs - Natural Egg Dyes How Tuesday (early)

Many herbs and spices also contain fun colors, so you can create lovely shades with items you probably already have on hand. Below is a list of possibilities. Feel free to branch out, and try any other herbs you have in your pantry.

·         Turmeric (brownish orange)

·         Coffee

·         Nettle or mints (tan green)

·         Calendula (tan yellow)

·         Hibiscus (makes blue gray dye)

·         Onion skins (purple)

·         Black tea

·         Elderberries (purple)

Try a tablespoon of herb/spice material, a teaspoon of vinegar (which works as a fixative to help the eggshells take color) and enough hot water to fill a pint jar. I heat the water in a tea kettle and pour it into the jars. Use caution when pouring hot water if children are nearby, and allow it to cool slightly before allowing children to work with the dyes.

I put it all in wide mouth canning jars which gave room for the egg scooper to be used to life the eggs out of the dye.

Let eggs soak in the dye mixture for 10 minutes or longer, even several hours, depending on desired shade (and patience). Natural dyes often give softer, earthier hues than conventional dyes.

Hibiscus creating blue gray dye on three different eggs three different ways

Do not leave them in overnight or the vinegar will soften the egg shell - yes I did do that!

There are a variety of ways you can decorate your eggs beyond simply dyeing them solid colors. Try these ideas for adding more variation and creativity to the eggs!

1. Wrap eggs in rubber bands - everywhere the band hugs the egg, there will be no dye, giving cool patterns.

2. Use a white crayon or a corner of a slab of paraffin wax to make a design.  Where the is wax there is no dye. (You can see my "L" in the large picture above.)

3. Wipe the color off the egg when it is wet and you get a painted farmhouse style egg (see hibiscus dye above)

light leaf pattern

4. My fave use a nylon to hold a plant leaf against the egg and when you remove the nylon the leaf pattern will be undyed.

The texture of the leaf is visible in the right egg, so cool! These were dyed with rose petals giving a pinkish brown.